ADT Receives Major US Grant!

New York's famous Joyce Theater has handed out almost $30,000 to Australian Dance Theatre to secure a performance of the company's new work in development, 'G'.

An unprecedented gesture in Australian dance, the already strong international stature of Adelaide's famous Australian Dance Theatre (ADT) and its Artistic Director Garry Stewart has been reinforced.

To celebrate its 25th anniversary, The Joyce has announced commissioning grants worth US$25,000 for 25 of the world's best dance companies, with ADT the only Australian company to receive one of the grants.

The Joyce, considered one of the world's premiere performance venues for dance, has invested US$25,000 to help ADT develop Garry's next work 'G'… a modern interpretation of the classical ballet Giselle.

"This is wonderful on two levels," Garry said. "It's further recognition that what everyone has worked so hard to build at ADT is truly world class and is seen that way in Europe and America which are historically the two centres of contemporary dance."

"Of course the money itself is also a blessing. Producing new dance works take a significant financial

commitment so this investment by the Joyce is very important to us."

Stephen Weinroth, Chair of The Joyce Theater foundation Board of Trustees, said the process of selecting the 25 companies was exhaustive.

"We chose companies with the deepest histories at The Joyce Theater that have yet to receive Joyce commissioning funds; companies we want to foster deeper relationships with; and companies doing great work that we want to encourage."

'G' is currently in the early stages of development at ADT's Hawthorn headquarters in Adelaide and should make its world premier in 2008. It is likely the work will tour Australia before being performed at The Joyce in early 2009.

ADT has enjoyed two previous successful seasons at the Joyce, performing Birdbrain (Garry's wry postmodern interpretation of the classical ballet Swan Lake) in 2002 and HELD in 2005.

"This is further proof that ADT is clearly the best contemporary dance company in Australia and one of the top dozen in the world," ADT Chair Donny Walford said.

Established in 1965, ADT is the oldest professional contemporary dance company in Australia and has won 21 major awards over the past four years including five Helpmann Awards - arts' equivalent of the Oscars.
Ignition 7, Daniel Jaber
Photo: Chris Herzfeld

 

This August ADT will entertain Adelaide audiences with Devolution from August 2nd to 4th at Her Majesty's Theatre. Devolution is the winner of the 2006 Helpmann Award for Best New Australian Work and Best Lighting Design. It also won the inaugural Ruby Award for Innovation. ADT will then take Ignition to 'Out of The Square' Venues across South Australia in October, drawing inspiration from a vast array of sources and presenting an eclectic collection of new short works using the theme 'Gender Studies' to create new, dynamic dance.

For further information about Australian Dance Theatre visit www.adt.org.au/

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